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  Systems and methods for remote utility metering and meter monitoringRelated Patent Categories: Liquid Purification Or Separation, With Alarm, Indicator, Register, Recorder, Signal Or Inspection MeansThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070284293. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to provisional application 60/811,765 filed Jun. 8, 2006 and 60/869,501 filed Dec. 11, 2006, both titled "Systems and Method for Remote Water Metering," the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to automated utility meter reading and more specifically to network-based automated meter reading (AMR) system using wireless sensor network technology. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Municipal or private water deliver systems usually deliver water from a central location through a distribution network to water customers on a cost per unit of volume basis, most often cost per gallon or cost per liter. In these systems, a water meter is typically placed between a common water supply pipe and a customer property to measure the amount of water flowing from the supply pipe to the customer. In order to bill the customer for water usage, it is necessary to periodically read the meter to determine the amount of usage over a fixed period of time. This process is referred to in the industry as metering or meter reading. [0004] Historically, metering has been a labor intensive process, and due to the manual steps required, one that is prone to error. Some improvements have been made by utilizing automated meter reading (AMR) techniques to capture and transmit meter reading information electronically, such as to a technician with a receiving device near the meter or to another remote location. However, these automated systems still suffer from various shortcomings including limited battery life, limited transmission range, and lack of remote addressability, among others. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] In view of the aforementioned shortcomings of conventional meter reading systems, at least one embodiment of the invention provides a remote water meter monitoring system. The remote water meter monitoring system according to this embodiment comprises a water meter body coupling a water supply source to a water customer, a flow sensor contained within the water meter body that is configured to measure a bidirectional flow rate of water through the water meter, a power supply system including at least one battery, at least one capacitor, at least one rectifier circuit, and a power generator, wherein the power generator is powered by a flow of water through the water meter body, a controller communicatively coupled to the water meter body and power supply system, and at least one antenna connected to the controller. [0006] Another embodiment according to the invention provides a wireless remote water meter monitoring network. The wireless remote water meter monitoring network according to this embodiment comprises at least one central data processing system, at least one bridge device communicatively coupled to the at least one central data processing system, and a plurality of network nodes, each network node configured to perform two-way communication with the at least one bridge device, either directly or through one or more other network nodes, wherein each network node comprises a water meter housing coupling a water customer with a water supply line, a flow measurement device in the water meter housing for measuring a volume of water flowing through the meter, a power supply circuit including at least one power storage device, at least one capacitive device and a power converter, wherein the power converter is powered by water flow through the meter, and a communication circuit comprising a mesh-type controller and an antenna, wherein the communication circuit is coupled to the flow measurement device and the power supply circuit and is adapted to perform two-way communication. [0007] Still a further embodiment according to the invention provides a circuit for a wireless water meter monitoring system. The circuit according to this embodiment comprises a mechanical energy harnessing sub-circuit for converting water flow mechanical energy into electrical energy comprising a pair of magnetically coupled rotors driven by water flow and having a plurality of magnets affixed thereto that rotate around a set of coils, thereby inducing a current in the coils, an energy storage and delivery sub-circuit comprising at least one rectifier circuit electrically coupled to the coils, at least one capacitor charged by the at least one rectifier circuit, at least one battery, and a switch for permitting the at least one battery to be charged by the at least one capacitor and for selecting either the at least one capacitor or the at least one battery to supply continuous power to the circuit and to manage charging of the at least one battery, a water flow counting sub-circuit comprising a plurality of flux change detectors that detect flux changes caused by a magnet rotating about a shaft driven by a flow sensor of a water flow chamber, a communication sub-circuit electrically coupled to the energy storage and delivery sub-circuit and the water flow counting sub-circuit comprising a mesh-type transceiver and an antenna for enabling two-way communication between the wireless water meter monitoring system and other systems, and a sensor sub-circuit electrically coupled to the energy storage and delivery sub-circuit and the communication sub-circuit for recording sensor data and comprising at least one sensor device. [0008] These and other embodiments and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a typical water utility distribution network beginning with a water utility supply and terminating in a plurality of water consumers. [0010] FIG. 2 is a network diagram of a remote water meter monitoring system according to various embodiments of the invention. [0011] FIG. 3 is a illustration of a water meter pit including a remote water meter monitoring system according to various embodiments of the invention. [0012] FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram of electrical components of a remote water meter monitoring system according to various embodiments of the invention. [0013] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the power conversion circuit for a remote water meter monitoring system according to various embodiments of the invention. [0014] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method of converting mechanical water flow energy into electrical energy in a remote water meter monitoring system according to various embodiments of the invention. [0015] FIGS. 7A and 7B are different views of a water measurement head including a power conversion generator for a remote water meter monitoring system according to various embodiments of the invention. [0016] FIGS. 8A and 8B are different views of a water chamber and water measurement head including a water counting system for a remote water meter monitoring system according to various embodiments of the invention. [0017] FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a method for measuring water flow with a remote water meter monitoring system according to various embodiments of the invention. [0018] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the various logic modules utilized in the remote water meter monitoring system according to the various embodiments of the invention. [0019] These and other embodiments and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. Continue reading... Full patent description for Systems and methods for remote utility metering and meter monitoring Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Systems and methods for remote utility metering and meter monitoring patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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